Four Nations tournament: Harambee Stars fixture revised after Senegal delay
By William Muthama, July 20, 2025The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has revised the fixture list for the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament due to logistical delays involving the Senegal national team.
The changes were announced through CECAFA’s X account on Sunday, 20 July 2025, just a day before the tournament’s kick-off in Arusha, Tanzania.
Initially, hosts Tanzania were set to play Senegal in the opening match, followed by a clash between Kenya’s Harambee Stars and Uganda. However, Senegal’s late arrival forced organisers to reshuffle the fixtures.
Kenya’s new schedule
Harambee Stars will now open their campaign against hosts Tanzania on Monday, 21 July 2025. Their second match will be against Senegal on Thursday, 24 July, and they will wrap up the tournament with a regional derby against Uganda on Sunday, 27 July. All matches are set to take place at Karatu Stadium in Arusha.
The CECAFA Four Nations Tournament, which replaces the discontinued Senior Challenge Cup, will be played in a round-robin format.
Each of the four participating teams Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Senegal will face one another once. The team with the highest points at the end of the competition will be crowned champions.
CHAN preparations
The tournament serves as vital preparation for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Kenya’s involvement in CECAFA is considered crucial for fine-tuning the squad ahead of the continental tournament set for August.
Harambee Stars arrived in Arusha on Saturday, 19 July, with a 25-man squad led by head coach Benni McCarthy. The team is expected to gain critical match fitness and tactical cohesion during the CECAFA tournament.
Kenya’s revised fixtures:
Kenya vs Tanzania – Monday, 21 July
Kenya vs Senegal – Thursday, 24 July
Kenya vs Uganda – Sunday, 27 July
With the tournament rescheduled, regional fans are looking forward to competitive fixtures and an early glimpse of CHAN 2024 preparations.